Chapter 6 Jason #2
He dried himself with the towel while the others mulled that over.
His T-shirt was where he’d left it, draped over one of the boxes of supplies sitting by the door.
It looked like Patrick had packed for a zombie apocalypse.
Patrick was probably worried about losing the security deposit on the cabin, but did he really think they’d need two fire extinguishers?
And a flare gun? Although considering the last time the Jumpscare Society had gotten together at the cabin, Patrick was right to prepare for disaster.
Jason could’ve used a flare gun that night, to signal for someone, anyone to take him away from the havoc that had erupted after Freddy had shared his special brownies.
Under their influence, Patrick had drunk more than usual and spent half the night puking behind the woodpile, Mikey had wandered into the woods and come back with a dozen wasp stings, and Jason had apparently started making out with Tiffany, which he had no memory of in the morning.
She, however, had taken it as a sign they were getting back together. And Carrie—
He didn’t know what Carrie—sweet, shy Carrie, who was like a little sister the way Mikey was like a little brother—had been thinking.
The whole situation had been so awkward.
Tiffany had convinced him it would blow over if he kept his head down, though in hindsight, he suspected his silence had done more harm than good.
Maybe if he’d said something, Carrie wouldn’t have been so mercilessly harassed and shamed.
Maybe she wouldn’t have felt she had to leave town.
Many times afterward he’d lain awake at night, wondering if Tiffany had been the one to print out and post that photo everywhere. But he’d kept his suspicions to himself, because they’d started dating again after the incident and it would’ve been shitty to sell out his girlfriend.
Anyway, it was all water under the bridge. Carrie seemed happy and healthy, holding herself with more self-assurance than before. She’d grown a spine during the years away. He was glad for her. Truly. And a little envious that one of them had been able to move on from their typecasting.
Patrick whisked away their damp towels and went to rescue the burgers from the barbecue. Though it seemed everyone had lost their appetite except Freddy, who appeared intent on eating his fears.
“I don’t think Daniel’s dangerous,” Carrie said, although doubt was written clearly on her creased brow.
“Famous last words,” said Mikey, just as a thunderclap sounded outside the cabin.
Everyone jumped, even Carrie, which proved she wasn’t convinced Daniel was harmless.
She was definitely nervous about something.
Or someone. But Jason was confident he and his friends could handle an intense ex-boyfriend.
Freddy whimpered around a mouthful of burger. “We’re in an isolated cabin during a thunderstorm. I don’t like how that movie ends!”
“Oh my fucking God. It’s just rain, you babies.” Jen said what Jason was thinking, although he was too nice to say out loud that his friends were overreacting.
A flash of lightning suddenly brightened the room as if someone had shone a spotlight from outside the windows.
The thunder followed, a world-shattering boom that detonated right above them.
Tiffany squealed. Carrie put a hand to her heaving chest, and even Jen jumped.
Jason instinctively grabbed the closest and steadiest thing in the room—which was Patrick’s arm.
“If this were a slasher movie, this is when the power would go out,” Jen said, cackling.
And then the power went out.
Jason had to admit Freddy was right. It happened exactly as if they were in a movie.
The cabin’s lights flickered and went dark within the space of a breath.
Carrie gasped. Mikey and Freddy swore. Patrick groaned.
Tiffany gave a little shriek and must’ve clutched Jen, because Jen suddenly yelped, “Ow, your nails, Tiff!”
Jason had already thought the cabin was quiet, but the silence surged to a deafening roar after every light snuffed out.
The electric hum he’d taken for granted vanished, leaving only the thump of his own heart.
He froze, the sudden darkness sending him into fight-or-flight mode.
Carrie turned on her phone’s flashlight, but his body chose to fight anyway.
The stark light cast ominous shadows and his free hand curled into a fist, ready to strike at them.
Jen groaned. “Ugh. Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Relax, everyone,” Patrick said, wriggling out of Jason’s hold.
Jason flushed and forced his fingers to uncurl.
He hadn’t realized he was still clutching Patrick’s arm.
“It’s just a blackout. The cabin reviews said the power was unreliable, so I brought candles and flashlights. Save your phone batteries.”
Carrie turned off her phone and tucked it back in her jeans. Patrick brushed past Jason as he advanced toward the cardboard box by the door. A rustling sounded, and Jason squinted as a soft beam swept over everyone’s faces from the flashlight in Patrick’s hand.
“Now it’s extra cozy. Nothing to worry about,” Patrick said.
“Yeah.” Carrie laughed nervously. “We’re overreacting. Daniel can’t be stalking us. He didn’t even know where I was going.”
In front of her, on the narrow table behind the sofa, the old rotary telephone started to ring.